GRANADA
Sunset Spots
Without question, the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen was in Granada. With the snow capped mountains and the purples and mauves playing against the white houses, green hills, and terracotta Alcazaba on the horizon, it really was something to behold. And trust me, I’m a sunset chaser. On every trip, I plan each day out to the time to catch the best possible viewpoints. Sometimes it’s just meh, other times it makes you want to question your entire existence. Granada is one of those kinds of sunsets.
There are certainly some pluses and minuses with this sunset though. The great news: no matter where you’re viewing it, they’re all spectacular. The bad news: it’s all up hill, and it’s not a small one. I just about died. I mean you’re really trekking up this bad boy so if you’re looking for something a lot more relaxed, you better catch a taxi if you can find one.
Mirador De San Nicolas
Camino Nuevo de Nicolas, 28
From the Plaza Puerta Real, the walk is .7 miles uphill. If you aren’t too winded, it should take about 20 minutes.
Mirador de San Nicolas is located in the Albaicin neighborhood directly across the valley for the Alhambra. The neighborhood is beautiful and worth a tour around. I let myself get lost in the alleys on my way back down and was not disappointed. There are a ton of beautiful little bars and restaurants to see, and the view from literally every street is perfection.
This one is by far the most well known. It has been incredibly hyped up on social media, and it shows. If you’ve got plenty of time and plan to show up fairly early, then no big deal. Otherwise, be aware that you’ll be standing in a plaza full of people.
If the plaza is too full, try Mirador de San Cristobal up the hill. It’s another 10 minutes walking distance but significantly less busy.
San Miguel Alto Viewpoint
Carril de San Miguel, 26
From the Plaza Puerta Real, this is a steep walk 1.3 miles, which also does include a series of steps. It should take you 30 minutes if you don’t intend to catch your breath.
If you’re heading up from San Cristobal, there’s no direct line. You’ll have to travel around neighborhood so it will add another .7 miles and 15 minutes to your walk.
If you’re fit and a steep hike doesn’t faze you, I suggest shooting for San Miguel Alto from the city center. It’s a direct line uphill that way and cuts down on your travel time significantly. Because there’s no direct way to go from San Nicolas to San Cristobal to San Miguel, if you choose to do this the scenic route, you’re extending the hike significantly.
This viewpoint is at the tippy top, the most northernly point of the city, rivaled only by the Sacromonte caves. If you’re lookin for the absolute best point of view that also includes the Alhambra, this is it.
Torre De La Villa
Paseo del Generalife, 7
View from Torre de la Villa watchtower inside Alhambra
This viewpoint is a little different than the previous mentioned as it’s from inside the Alhambra at the highest point in the complex, the Torre de la Villa watchtower. The above pano is a picture I took from that very point and when I say you can see for miles, it’s no joke. It’s the most picturesque place to see the sunset if you don’t have it in your mind that the Alhambra should be a part of that vision.
To view the sunset from this spot will take a little more planning on your part. First, make sure you know the time of sunset for when you’ll be viewing. Then you’re going to have to arrange your visit to the Alhambra so that you’re in the Alcazaba during that window. Also, be sure you purchase the correct ticket times for viewing, as there is no overlap. There is an hour break in between and day passers are escorted out before the night passers come in. For a complete list of ticketing options, read my Alhambra guide here.
For more information on the Alhambra, visit here.
For ticket purchasing and a more detailed site map of the complex, visit here.
